Methods, apparatuses, computer program product and system for handling radio link failure in relayed radio communications

Abstract

A technique for handling a radio link failure, RLF, in a relayed radio communication relayed through a relay radio device ( 100 -RL) between a remote radio device ( 100 -RM) and a radio access network, RAN ( 100 -NN), or a further remote radio device ( 100 -RM) is described. An RLF in the relayed radio communication is determined. Responsive to the determined RLF, at least one of a release, a reconfiguration, and a reestablishment of the relayed radio communication is performed or initiated.

1 . A method of handling a radio link failure, RLF, in a relayed radio communication relayed through a relay radio device between a remote radio device and a radio access network, RAN, the method being performed in a relay radio device, the method comprising:
 determining an RLF in the relayed radio communication, the relayed radio communication comprising a sidelink, SL, between the remote radio device and the relay radio device, and a uplink, UL, and/or a downlink, DL, between the RAN and the relay radio device; and   performing or initiating, responsive to the determined RLF, at least one of a release, a reconfiguration, and a reestablishment of the relayed radio communication.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the RLF is determined in at least one of:
 the sidelink, SL, between the remote radio device and the relay radio device; and   the uplink, UL, and/or the downlink, DL, between the relay radio device and the RAN.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing radio link monitoring, RLM, wherein the RLF is detected as a result of the RLM.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing a RLM of at least one of:
 the relayed radio communication;   the SL between the remote radio device and the relay radio device; and   the UL and/or a or the DL between the relay radio device and the RAN.   
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is performed at and/or by at least one of:
 an adaptation layer of a protocol stack of the relayed radio communication;   a packet data convergence protocol, PDCP, layer of a protocol stack of the relayed radio communication;   a radio resource control, RRC, layer of a protocol stack of the relayed radio communication; and   a medium access control, MAC, layer of a protocol stack of the relayed radio communication.   
     
     
         7 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the UL and/or the DL uses an Uu radio interface. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the radio communication comprises at least two segments, and wherein the release, the reconfiguration, or the reestablishment of the relayed radio communication is performed or initiated on at least one or each of the segments. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the release, the reconfiguration, or the reestablishment is performed for at least one of:
 the SL between the remote radio device and the relay radio device; and   the UL and/or the DL between the relay radio device and the RAN.   
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the RLF comprises at least one of:
 detecting the RLF at the relay radio device; and   receiving a control message at the relay radio device, the control message being indicative of the RLF.   
     
     
         18 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing or initiating the release of the relayed radio communication, wherein performing or initiating the release of the relayed radio communication comprises:
 indicating the release to at least one of: the remote radio device and the RAN.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the indication comprises a radio inactivity of the relay radio device causing expiry of an inactivity timer at the at least one of the remote radio device and the RAN. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the RLF is determined for the SL between the relay radio device and the remote radio device, and wherein the reconfiguration is performed or initiated for the SL between the relay radio device and the remote radio device. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing or initiating the reconfiguration of the SL comprises:
 transmitting a reconfiguration message to the remote radio device, the reconfiguration message being indicative of the reconfiguration of the SL.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the RLF is determined for the link between the relay radio device and the RAN, and wherein the reestablishment is performed or initiated for the link between the relay radio device and the RAN. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reestablishment is a radio resource control, RRC, reestablishment, and/or
 wherein the reestablishment is initiated by the relay radio device, and/or   wherein the reestablishment comprises a change of a network node of the RAN serving the relay radio device.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing or initiating the reestablishment comprises:
 transmitting, from the relay radio device to the changed network node, a configuration information indicative of a configuration of the SL between the relay radio device and the remote radio device.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein performing or initiating the reestablishment further comprises:
 receiving, from the changed network node in response to the configuration information, a reconfiguration information indicative of a reconfiguration of the SL between the relay radio device and the remote radio device.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the SL between the relay radio device and the remote radio device is maintained during the reestablishment. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing or initiating at least one of the release, the reconfiguration, and the reestablishment comprises:
 transmitting, from the relay radio device to the RAN or the remote radio device, a report of the RLF, comprising the RLF of the SL between the relay radio device and the remote radio device.   
     
     
         32 .- 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing or initiating at least one of the release, the reconfiguration, and the reestablishment comprises:
 transmitting, from the relay radio device to the remote radio device, an indication of the RLF, being indicative of the RLF of the link between the relay radio device and the RAN.   
     
     
         36 .- 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A method of handling a radio link failure, RLF, in a relayed radio communication relayed through a relay radio device between a remote radio device and a radio access network, RAN, the method comprising:
 receiving a report indicative of an RLF in the relayed radio communication, the relayed radio communication comprising a sidelink, SL, between the remote radio device and the relay radio device, and a uplink, UL, and/or a downlink, DL, between the RAN and the relay radio device; and   performing or initiating, responsive to the report, at least one of a release, a reconfiguration, and a reestablishment of the relayed radio communication.   
     
     
         40 .- 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . A relay radio device for handling a radio link failure, RLF, in a relayed radio communication relayed through a relay radio device between a remote radio device and a radio access network, RAN, the relay radio device comprising a memory operable to store instructions and processing circuitry operable to execute the instructions, whereby the relay radio device is operative to:
 determine an RLF in the relayed radio communication, the relayed radio communication comprising a sidelink, SL, between the remote radio device and the relay radio device, and a uplink, UL, and/or a downlink, DL, between the RAN and the relay radio device; and   perform or initiate, responsive to the determined RLF, at least one of a release, a reconfiguration, and a reestablishment of the relayed radio communication.   
     
     
         51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . A remote radio device for handling a radio link failure, RLF, in a relayed radio communication relayed through a relay radio device between the remote radio device and a radio access network, RAN, the remote radio device comprising a memory operable to store instructions and processing circuitry operable to execute the instructions, whereby the remote radio device is operative to:
 receive a report indicative of an RLF in the relayed radio communication, the relayed radio communication comprising a sidelink, SL, between the remote radio device and the relay radio device, and a uplink, UL, and/or a downlink, DL, between the RAN ( 100 -NN) and the relay radio device; and   perform or initiate, responsive to the report, at least one of a release, a reconfiguration, and a reestablishment of the relayed radio communication.   
     
     
         53 .- 59 . (canceled)